Top tracks — play these first
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Black Laden Crown Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of despair and darkness, featuring a slow-burning intensity that sets the tone for the entire record.
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Devil on Hwy 9 — This track combines storytelling with driving rhythms, reflecting Danzig's knack for narrative songwriting while showcasing his heavy metal roots.
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Eyes Ripping Fire — With its aggressive riffs and dynamic shifts, this song highlights Danzig's ability to blend melodic elements with brute force, marking it as a standout.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with melodic elements but lacks standout tracks that elevate it significantly.
What we noticed
- The first track features a slow build with layered guitar riffs that set a dark tone, followed by a shift to more aggressive tempos in the subsequent tracks.
- Several songs incorporate haunting melodies that contrast with heavy instrumentation, creating a dynamic interplay between light and dark elements.
- The album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace throughout, with only minor variations in speed and intensity across its nine tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo atmospheric journey
- brooding soundscapes for introspection
- for late-night drives
- dark themes with immersive depth
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat tempos
- prefer lighthearted listening experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows Danzig's continued relevance and evolution after a six-year hiatus.
- Themes
- American folklore· heavy metal legacy
- Career context
- Released in 2017, Black Laden Crown is Danzig's eleventh studio album and marks his first release after a six-year hiatus. This album showcases the evolution of his sound while retaining the signature heavy metal style that defined his earlier work. It also reflects Danzig's ongoing exploration of darker themes as he continues to navigate his legacy in rock music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Type O Negative· Misfits· Black Label Society
Tracklist
- 1 Black Laden Crown Start here 5:59
- 2 Eyes Ripping Fire 4:19
- 3 Devil on Hwy 9 3:52
- 4 Last Ride 5:00
- 5 The Witching Hour 5:59
- 6 But a Nightmare 5:04
- 7 Skulls & Daisies 3:58
- 8 Blackness Falls 5:48
- 9 Pull the Sun 5:55
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
October Rust
Type O Negative
Shares a similar dark ambience with heavy riffs and introspective, melancholic themes.
Meliora
Ghost
Combines heavy metal with haunting melodies and explores dark, theatrical themes in a modern context.
Medusa
Paradise Lost
Offers a blend of heavy riffs and somber melodies, echoing themes of despair and loss.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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